Patriots capture annual Sugar Bowl over Reese

For the second straight year, the Patriots set a record for the margin of victory in the 11th Annual Pioneer Sugar Bowl with their 55-7 thumping of Reese.

"Anytime you score points, the credit has to go to the offensive line," said USA coach Tim Travis. "Tonight, they just collapsed a whole side of a defense."

The offensive line was able to impose its will on the Reese defense as USA racked up 517 total yards and a eye-popping 413 on the ground.

Lance Travis once again led the way with 209 yards on 23 carries, with scores of 4, 25, and 27 yards.

However, it was Travis' ability to draw the attention of the defense which led to the play of the game for USA.

Midway through second quarter, with the Rockets trailing 30-7, it looked like their defense was going to come up with its fist stop of the day, forcing a third-and-11.

Like he had so many times in the half, Travis took the handoff from quarterback Jordan Bitzer, but this time Travis handed it back to Jared Fischer, who raced 46 yards on the reverse.

When asked about why he called the play at that point, Travis had a simple reply: "Other than all 11 guys chasing No. 40 (Travis) where ever he goes?"

It was those kind of runs like the reverse to Fischer, and a 34-yard scamper from Kyle Richardson in the second quarter, that Travis was most pleased about.

"That's what I mean about diversifying the offense, that's what was good about the first half," Travis said. "We were able to get other guys involved in the offense, and make things work off of that.

"The way it works is Lance takes the pounding, and hopefully Fischer and Richardson get to make some big plays for us."

For Reese and coach Bob Saylor, the loss drops the team to just 2-2, and Saylor knows his team has to do a better job of taking care of the ball if it is going to make a run at the playoffs.

The Rockets fumbled on the second play of the game, and committed some costly penalties which eventually led to more USA points.

"We thought we had a good plan going in, but we made a lot of mistakes in the first half," said Saylor. "You can't play that way and expect to beat a quality team like USA.

"They beat us up pretty good, but we have to get ourselves back together and get ready for All Saints."

USA got out to another quick start after the turnover, with an 8-yard run from Fischer to make it 6-0. On their next possession, the Patriots saw Bitzer make it to the end zone as he went untouched for 16 yards, making it 14-0.

At that point it looked like USA was cruising, but on Reese's next possession, Jason Bierlein bolted for a 62-yard scoring run, making it 14-7.

The Patriots responded to their first touchdown allowed all year by grabbing a 36-7 halftime edge, but that didn't stop Travis from commenting on the first points allowed by his team.

"We're mad, he said.

"That's a bad thing, we gave up a 60-yard run. That's something we have to work on, it's something we preach - make them grind the ball down the field if they're going to score.

"You can't let them get them in big bunches."

Saylor was left wondering what could have happened if his team would have scored on its first possession.

"Obviously, it would have changed the complexion of the first quarter," he said.

Like the other three teams before Reese, Saylor was left commenting on USA's physical style of play.

"It's a game of hitting, and that team hits," Saylor said. "We're not at

that level yet, we have to pick it up. I told the kids after the game, we have pick it up, and hit like trucks just like they do."

The final score for the Patriots came in the fourth when backup QB Justin Johnson connected with Zach Retzler on a 53-yard pass.

Travis said passing in the fourth wasn't meant to run up the score by any means, but it was meant to get his bench players some game action.

"We just had things that we had to keep working on," Travis said.

For the game, the Patriots were just 4-of-4 passing, and it is an area Travis would like to address.

"We only threw four times - we need to work on it," Travis said. "There's going to come a day when running the ball is more difficult than it has been."

Next week, USA will have its fourth Greater Thumb West showdown in a row when it returns home to host Cass City, which beat Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port for the first time in more than two decades, 30-6.

The Red Hawks come in at 3-0 in the GTW, and Travis realizes the importance of the game.

"That makes it our fourth game for the league championship in a row," Travis said. "I've seen them on film, they're a very good team, they're very skilled and big.